NFL

Taiwan Jones trying position switch for Raiders

NAPA, Calif. (AP)

Taiwan Jones' NFL career got off to a slow start when a variety
of injuries and the inability to hold onto the ball kept him off
the field for much of his first two seasons with the Oakland
Raiders.

Now the former running back with sprinter's speed is getting a
second chance at establishing himself as an NFL player following a
position switch to cornerback.

While his coverage skills are still a bit raw after not playing
cornerback since his freshman year at Eastern Washington, Jones
still has that blazing speed that tantalized the Raiders those last
two years. Combined with his stellar coverage skills on special
teams, Jones is making a strong bid to make the team at a second
position.

''I'm still just happy to be on the roster,'' Jones said.
''Whatever I can do to help the team and if I can help the team on
defense then I'm willing to do it. I was kind of upset that I
couldn't show everybody what kind of running back I could be, but I
think it's a good thing as far as my career.''

Jones was drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round in 2011
after rushing for 2,955 yards and 7.7 yards per carry and scoring
36 touchdowns in two seasons as a running back at Eastern
Washington.

Those gaudy statistics, a 4.33 second 40-yard dash before the
draft and the fact Jones is a Bay Area native made him a fan
favorite but it never translated to success on the field.

A variety of minor injuries and a propensity to fumble in the
preseason made it hard for Jones to earn the trust of his coaches.
He had 22 rushes for 94 yards, four catches for 36 yards and 10
kick returns for 187 yards in 24 games and never made it into the
end zone.

That led to the position switch in the offseason and the Raiders
are hoping Jones proves better at preventing touchdowns than he did
at scoring them.

He hasn't quite gotten to that point yet despite allowing just
three catches on seven throws his direction so far in the
preseason, according to Pro Football Focus. But he also committed a
long pass interference penalty.

''I kind of panicked and I tried to slow him down a little
bit,'' he said. ''I made it a little obvious. I should have waited
until I was a step closer.''

Cornerback isn't completely new for Jones, who was given a
scholarship to play cornerback in college but made the switch to
offense his second season. But his college coaches thought he'd be
converted back to cornerback in the NFL and Jones was prepared for
the switch when it happened.

Now he has two more preseason games to show he should stick
there when the season starts.

''He's as athletic as anybody you'll ever see on the football
field but it's different,'' teammate Charles Woodson said. ''It's
different from offense to defense and learning a new position and
them expecting you to just be able to do it. That's hard for a
young guy like him just to be expected to be able to do it. He's
shown some great things but you don't have a lot of time to get it
right. With him if he had more time I'd feel like eventually he'd
get it. We'll see what happens.''

One aspect of his game that doesn't need much work is special
teams. With his blazing speed and nose for the ball, Jones was one
of the top performers on coverage units for Oakland last season as
a gunner on punts and the first man down on kickoffs, recording 11
tackles.

That ability will help him as he tries to make the roster.

''His major value for this football team right now is as a
special teams player and I think he's proven that the first two
preseason games,'' coach Dennis Allen said. ''We'll continue to
work him there and continue to try to get him better at
corner.''

NOTES: Hayden wore a black jersey instead of the red non-contact
one for the first time since offseason surgery. Hayden will have
his first contact since November when the team practices in pads on
Monday. ... RB Darren McFadden was limited by a shoulder injury but
Allen said he does not believe the injury will keep him from
playing Friday against Chicago.

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